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March 10, 2009

Dalai Lama featured on Today Show today

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the violent 1959 uprising in response to the China takeover of Tibet. Thousands of Chinese troops are on alert for any “disturbances.” An NBC report, an Ann Curry interview with the Dalai Lama, will appear on the NBC Nightly News tonight. A part of the report appeared as an item on the Today Show this morning.

In the Today report, the Dalai Lama says that indeed China’s actions toward Tibet amount to cultural genocide. And, he says, that his effort during the past fifty years to negotiate with China has been an utter failure.

[A]s I have repeatedly appealed before, I would like once again to urge our Chinese brothers and sisters ... to try to discover the facts about Tibet impartially, so as to prevent divisions among us. Tibetans should also continue to work for friendship with the Chinese people.

Looking back on 50 years in exile, we have witnessed many ups and downs. However, the fact that the Tibet issue is alive and the international community is taking growing interest in it is indeed an achievement. Seen from this perspective, I have no doubt that the justice of Tibet's cause will prevail, if we continue to tread the path of truth and non-violence.

UPDATE: Here the Ann Curry piece as editted for the NBC Nightly News. The report, here, using much of the same footage as the Today report, is darker, showing the Dalai Lama speaking more sharply about the Chinese.